Package Bees & Nucs for Sale in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Little Apiary on the Prairie delivers package bees, nucleus colonies, and mated queens to six pickup locations across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with delivery scheduled for April 2027. We’re a family-owned operation from Fargo, North Dakota, running since 2018. The UP is new territory for us in 2027. We do not ship live bees — pickup only.
We added the UP because it is one of the hardest places in the country to buy quality spring bees without a long drive, and because the climate is exactly what our genetics are selected for.
Where can I pick up bees in the Upper Peninsula?
Six stops, spanning the peninsula west to east:
Ironwood · Covington · Marquette · Dafter · Manistique · St. Ignace
That’s coverage from the Wisconsin border through Marquette and the central UP out to the Straits. You select your town at checkout.
When do bees get delivered to the Upper Peninsula?
The UP is on our northern run, the same one that serves northern Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.
Do nucs and packages arrive together?
No. Nucs and packages are delivered on separate days at every stop. We bring nucs through first, then come back through the same towns with packages about two weeks later. If you order both, expect two pickup days and two confirmed windows.
There’s a reason we run it in that order: we carry replacement nucs on the package run. If your colony has a problem, we can bring you another one instead of making you wait a season. We carry a limited number of spares, so it isn’t a blank check — but it’s why the route works this way.
Are delivery dates guaranteed?
No. Delivery is scheduled for April 2027 and those dates are tentative. We haul live animals across many states. Weather, supplier timing, and colony health all move dates, sometimes on short notice. We will not run a route on schedule if running it on schedule puts the bees at risk.
You’ll receive your exact stop, date, and time window by email as the route firms up, and you remain responsible for pickup on the final scheduled date. Read our delivery date policy.
Is there anywhere else to buy bees in the UP?
Not many places, and that’s precisely why we’re coming.
The Upper Peninsula is one of the thinnest-supplied beekeeping regions in the Midwest. Most UP beekeepers drive to lower Michigan or Wisconsin, or order packages shipped through the mail — which is hard on bees and produces exactly the losses you’d expect.
We’re offering a third option: bees bred for cold climates, handed to you in your own town, having never been through a shipping facility.
What can I buy for spring 2027?
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| 5-Frame Nucleus Colony (Nuc), Carniolan or Italian | $195 |
| Minnesota Overwintered Nuc, Carniolan or Italian | $215 |
| Package Bees, 3 lb, Carniolan or Italian | $160 |
| Package Bees, 2 lb, Carniolan or Italian | $135 |
| Mated Queen, Carniolan or Italian (unmarked) | $45 |
Everything on this page is a pre-order for spring 2027 delivery. Nothing ships now.
Questions?
Call or text (701) 809-0153, or email info@littleapiaryontheprairie.com. We’re always happy to help, even if you didn’t get your bees from us.